Cowboys trade for cornerback Joey Porter Jr.; here is what to know
The Dallas Cowboys traded for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., adding a proven cover specialist to their roster, the team announced late Wednesday night, according to DallasCowboys.com staff writer Nick Eatman. Porter Jr. spent three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before the move. The club described the move as a significant addition to its perimeter defense and a late-week roster adjustment.
Porter Jr. arrives in a football family. He is the son of former NFL linebacker Joey Porter, who played 13 seasons and was a key member of the Steelers’ Super Bowl XL team. Porter Jr. was five years old at the time and grew up around the NFL while his father was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a one-time first-team All-Pro.
He played collegiately at Penn State, where his lone interception and lone sack in four seasons both came against Indiana. Porter Jr. tied a Big Ten single-game record in 2022 with six pass deflections against Purdue. The Steelers selected him 32nd overall in the 2023 draft; that slot fell in the second round that year because a team forfeited picks. His rookie contract is scheduled to expire at the end of this season, according to DallasCowboys.com.
On the field, Porter Jr. combines uncommon size for the position with durability and production. He stands over 6-2 and is one of just 12 NFL cornerbacks since the 1950s to start at least 40 games to begin a career; DallasCowboys.com lists him with 41 career starts. His only interception return yards came on a 16-yard pick of Dak Prescott in 2024, and he has not allowed a touchdown reception since Week 8 of his rookie season in 2023, a span the team described as more than 1,400 consecutive snaps without yielding a TD.
In 2025, Porter Jr. ranked among the top 10 cornerbacks in four major categories. He allowed zero touchdowns that season and led the position with a 35.3 percent rate of third-down forced incompletions. He ranked third in passer rating allowed at 55.9 percent and 10th in completion percentage allowed at 47.8 percent, according to DallasCowboys.com.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Adding Joey Porter Jr. gives the Cowboys a physical, proven perimeter defender who has shown an ability to shut down scoring opportunities and limit completions on third down. His length and long streak without allowing a touchdown should help a Dallas secondary that has been searching for consistent outside play, and the team has depth questions at corner with younger options such as Cobie Durant and Caelen Carson. Porter Jr.’s rookie contract expiring after this season will be an immediate roster consideration, but his 2025 metrics and more than 40 career starts provide clear short-term defensive value while the club evaluates long-term plans.